Timer for internal-combustion engines



' Dec; 25, 1923.

E. HARRIS TIMER FOB INTERNAL CUMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Aug 2, 1919 I w w; M

Patented Dec. 25, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EVERETT HARRIS, OF LINDEN, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES w. ZEIGLER, 0F ATTICA, INDIANA.

TIMER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed August 2, 1919. Serial No. 314,841.

To aZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Evnnn'r'r HARRIS, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Linden, county of Montgomery, and State of Indiana, United States of America, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Timers for Internal-Combustion Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it aportains to make and use the same, reference lieing had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to spark timing devices for use in connection with internal combustion engines.

My timer is especially designed for use on low priced automobiles, and the object of the invention is to produce a simple, durable and cheap device, without sacrificing efficiency, by using in its construction as many units as possible that may be found in stock, thus eliminating the expense incident to the manufacture of specially designed parts.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view of a timer constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view of one end of the timer with the dust cap removed and the tubing partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a view of the other end of the timer with the bearing plate removed.

Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical section, and

' Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the carrier for the electrode.

The casing comprises a short piece of vulcanized rubber tubing 1 in which is frictionally and rigidly mounted near one end thereof, a flat disk 2 of fiber or other suitable insulating material.

Projecting through the disk 2 and arranged symmetrically around the axis thereof are a plurality of short bolts 3. Each bolt, four of which are shown, has a flat smooth head 4 which is countersunk in the disk flush with one face of the latter and constitutes a continuous surface. The threaded shank of the bolt 3 projects sulficiently beyond the opposite face of the disk to form a binding post for a feed wire 5 which is connected to the shank by the usual lock nut 6. A slot 1, sufficiently long to permit the passage of the wires 5 from the casing, is cut through the periphery of the latter between one end of the casing and'the disk. This end of the casing is closed by a dust-cap consisting of a flat disk 7, having a rabbeted portion 8, which fits tightly in the interior of the casing, thus forming a tight frictional connection and eliminating the usual screw and thread connection. An axial depression or recess 7 is formed in the outer face of the disk to receive the end of of a bracket (not shown) on the crank case, said bracket operating in connection with means hereinafter described for rotatably mounting the timer on the end of the crank case or engine.

The other end of the tubular casing is mounted on a circular metal bearing plate 9. This plate is formed on one face with a rabbeted portion 10 which frictionally engages the inner periphery of the casing, and the casing and plate are locked securely to gether against relative rotation by a pin 11 on the face of the plate engaging a notch 12 in the end of the casing.

On the other face of the plate 9 is formed a flange 13. This flange fits over a boss (not shown) on the end of the crank case and is held thereon by the above mentioned bracket. A perforated ear 14, radiating from the plate 9 is connected with the spark lever (not .shown) by a lever rod in the usual manner, so that the plate with the casing may be rotated to change the position of the contacts 4 relative to the cam-shaft 15 to advance or retard the spark.

The actuating shaft which may be the cam-shaft 15 for operating the engine valves projects into the casing through a central aperture 16 in the plate 9 and carries a revolving contact 17 which successively engages the contacts 4. This contact is carried by a crank 18 formed on one end with a collar 19 which surrounds the cam-shaft and is connected thereto by a pin 2'1) projecting through the collar and shaft. The other end of the crank carries an arm 21 which extends substantially parallel to the shaft 16 and is formed with an axial recess 22 in which the contact 17 is slidably mounted. A spring 28 is interposed between the bottom of the recess and the inner end of the contact to keep the outer end of the latter in rubbing contact with the disk and contacts.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that none of the parts require screws or rivets for assembling, thereby decreasing assembling costs to a minimum and any of the parts may be easily and rapidly replaced should their wear require it, no particular or special tools being required.

- In assembling the parts, the disk 2 with the contact bolts therein is placed in the tubing 1 with the contacts in a certain posi tion with relation to the notch 12, for instance thenotch may lie in a line drawn through two diagonally arranged contacts. As the pin 11 is placed in the plate 9, opposite the ear 14, the contacts will always lie in the same relative position to the ear so that by placing the latter in a certain normal position, the position of the contacts will be known from the position of the ear;

I claim- 1. A timer for internal combustion engines comprising a tubular casing having a peripheral slot for the passage of the feed wires, an insulating disk in frictional con nection with the inner walls of the casing and below the top thereof, a plurality of threaded bolts projecting through the disk, the heads or said bolts being countersunk in one face of the dish and constituting contact surfaces on the under side of the latter and the threaded shanks constituting binding posts on the other side of the disk for the feed wires, a disc cap frictionally mounted in one end of the casing for closing the latter, a metal bearing plate fixed on the other end of the'casing and having a central aperture to receive the actuating shaft, a poripheral flange on the plate forming a rotatable mounting between the plate and engine casing, and a yielding revolving contact carried by the cam shaft in operative rela tion to the contacts.

2. A timer for internal combustion engines comprising a tubular casing having a peripheral slot for the passage of the feed wires, an insulating disk mounted inthe newness casing below the top thereof, a plurality of threaded bolts projecting through the disk, the heads 01 said bolts being countersunk in the under face of the disk and constituting contact surfaces on one side of the latter and the threaded shanks constituting binding posts on the other side of the disk for the feed wires, a disc cap mounted in one end of the casing for closing the latter, a metal bea ng plate fixed on the other end of the casing and having a central aoerture to receive the actuating shaft, a peripheral flange on the plate ing a ro tatable mounting between the p: "e and engine casing, a yielding, revolving contact carried by the cam shaft in operative relaion to the contacts, id a pin in the bearing plate a notch in one end of the tubular casing 101' registering and locking the parts in correct relative position.

it timer for internal combustion engines comprising a tubular casing having peripheral slot for the pat olthe feed wires, an insulating disk trictionally mounted in the casing below the top thereof, a plurality of threaded bolts projecting through the disk, the heads of said bolts be ing countersunk in one of the disk and constituting contact surfaces on one side ot the latter and the threaded shanks constituting binding posts on the other side of the (llS{ for the feed wires, a disc cap trio tionally mounted in one end of the casing for closing the latter, a metal bearing pb fixed on the otl or end of the casing and having a central aierture to receive the actuating slia'rt, a peripheral flange on the plate forming a rotatable mounting between the plate and engine casing, a yielding, revolving contact carried by the cam shaft in operative relation to the contacts, and a pin in the bearing plate engaging a notch in one end of the tubular casing for registering and locking the parts in correct relative position.

in testimony that 1 claim the foregoing as my invention, 1 have signed llly name.

. EVERETT Hill-Lilli? 

